Hillcats clobber Birds with 14-run attack

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (JUNE 13, 2015) - One day after being shutout 1-0, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, were upended 14-5 by the Lynchburg Hillcats at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark on Saturday night. Jacob Rogers hit his team-leading seventh home run of the season, and Chesny Young extended his hit-streak to six games.

The Hillcats (31-31) powered their way to a six-run lead when they batted around in the third inning off of Pelicans starter Jen-Ho Tseng. The right-hander worked around lead off base runners in the first two innings, but was touched up for six earned runs in the third, a mark that tied a career-high while setting a new season-high. Shortstop Ivan Castillo began the frame with a lead off single before Tseng induced back-to-back fly outs. A walk to right fielder Bradley Zimmer extended the frame, and Lynchburg then pounced for a single, back-to-back doubles and a home run by third baseman Joe Sever to grab a 6-0 lead. Sever later clocked a three-run triple in the eighth inning to establish a new career-high five RBI.

The Pelicans (35-26) have now dropped three consecutive games, but prevented the shutout when Daniel Lockhart drove in his twelfth run of the year with a triple to center field in the fifth. Despite trailing 14-1 into the bottom of the eighth, the Birds struck for four more runs when Young singled to right and Rogers followed with a three-run long ball to deep right field.

Shawon Dunston Jr. made his return to Myrtle Beach after missing 48 games while on the disabled list since April 22. In his reunion with the club, the Pelicans' left fielder walked in his first plate appearance before stroking a triple to the center field wall in the eighth.

Lynchburg exploded for four more runs in the sixth, as well as another four-spot in the eighth. Juan Paniagua relieved Tseng in the fifth by striking out the first man that he faced, but in the sixth, a two-run home run by designated hitter Luigi Rodriguez and an RBI double by catcher Eric Haase stretched the Hillcats' lead to 10-1.

Following Sever's three-run triple in the eighth, second baseman James Roberts singled a run home to put the Hillcats ahead 14-1. In all, five Hillcats batters had multi-hit games, including Rodriguez, who finished a triple away from the cycle.

With the loss, and eight games to play in the first half, Myrtle Beach's lead in the Carolina League Southern Division is trimmed to three games ahead of Salem, who beat Wilmington on Saturday. The Blue Rocks lead the Northern Division by three games over Lynchburg.

Paniagua finished his night having allowed four earned runs on four hits after 1 1/3 innings of work. Newcomer Tyler Ihrig was also touched up for four earned runs in his two innings out of the bullpen, while Zach Cates fired a scoreless ninth inning, striking out one and walking one.

Tseng (2-3) collected his third loss of the year after 4 2/3 innings on the hill. The right-hander struck out five while also walking a pair.

Lynchburg starter D.J. Brown (4-2) improved his record with his fourth win. The righty punched out just one while walking two, but lasted 6 2/3 innings while surrendering one earned run on four base hits. Delvy Francisco pitched a full inning from the bullpen, but the Birds scored four earned runs off of him before J.P. Feyereisen closed out the game with 1 1/3 shutout innings to seal the 14-5 win.

The series against the Hillcats wraps up on Sunday, with the first pitch from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark scheduled for 6:05 p.m. ET. The Pelicans will send 2015 All-Star right-hander Jonathan Martinez (4-1, 2.76) to the mound, and the Hillcats will counter with left-hander Luis Lugo (3-4, 4.74).

Sunday's game can be heard live, presented by Courtyard Myrtle Beach at Barefoot Landing, on 1450 WRNN-AM ESPN Myrtle Beach, on the TuneIn Radio App, and via the MiLB First Pitch App, beginning with the Pregame Show at 5:45 p.m. ET. The game will also air along with live streaming video on MiLB.tv (subscription required).

Sunday will be Family Sunday, presented by 99.5 WRNN, with a pregame catch on the field open to all fans.

The 2015 season marks the 17th season for the Pelicans franchise and first as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2015, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.